Operationalization of the Monte Trigo Ice House

The Project “Strengthening Access to Sustainable Energy to boost income generating activities” is a community development initiative that aims to improve access to energy resources as a vehicle for taking advantage of development opportunities, namely income generating activities and fostering entrepreneurship in Monte Trigo, Cape Verde. This initiative was only possible, as it is an alliance of several actors who work in a joint and complementary way to carry out the Project. The alliance was instrumental in mobilizing financial, technical and technological resources to implement the project. They are part of this joint effort coordinated by the Monte Trigo Community Development Association (Agripesca), GEF SGP (Small Grants Program of the Global Environment Fund), Ministry of Tourism and Maritime Economy through FSST (Social Sustainability Fund for Tourism), the Porto Novo City Hall and Águas de Ponta Preta (APP, LDA), ALER's Member. This partnership is inspired by Goal 17 of the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals), which recognizes the value of inclusive and constructive alliances in favor of sustainable development.

The project started in May 2019 and is scheduled to close in April 2020. During the 11 months of implementation of the Project, APP, LDA has taken a co-coordinator role of the project, assuming the administrative, financial and technical management of the project, which is divided into three main components:

Requalification and installation of the photovoltaic solar system at the Ice House;
Strengthening the capacities of the community association;
Women's employability.

Within the scope of the first component of the project, the requalification and installation of the photovoltaic solar system at the Ice House are practically completed and Agripesca should provisionally receive the infrastructure. Right now, the Ice House is in the testing phase and already produces ice for the fishing community of Monte Trigo. The Ice House now has an ice production capacity of 1,000 Kg per day with 100% clean energy coverage, from an autonomous photovoltaic solar plant with 14.85 kWp of installed power and batteries with 78.8 kWh of power electrical energy storage capacity. APP, LDA coordinated the entire procurement, contracting, follow-up and acceptance process.

In the framework of strengthening the capacities of the community association, APP, LDA during the implementation of the project, the president of AGRIPESCA was assisted in this whole process, on a continuous basis, from a perspective of continuous training. Also on January 22nd, a course to strengthen associative skills was conducted.

Concerning women’s employability several actions were developed. The first was the mobilization of the IEFP as a project partner. The entity has already carried out some activities, namely held a 70-hour PIN Course.

10 KITS for business initiatives among women are planned. Also within the scope of the project's coordination, a course on Gender and community development was held on January 23rd. Still onwomen’s employability, the management of the Ice House will be carried out by a women (among one of the graduates of the project).

Monte Trigo, which in 2012 became the first place in the country to benefit from a 100% renewable electrical service, has now two solar photovoltaic plants with a combined installed power of 54.15 kWp.